African Air + Fresh Air South Africa Flying Sites Guide

Books Combo

African Air by George Steinmetz

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Fresh Air South Africa Flying Sites Guide by Greg Hamerton

African Air

Author: George Steinmetz

Flying his paramotor above some of the most spectacular scenery in the world, 'National Geographic' photographer George Steinmetz has spent more than 20 years photographing some of the most remote and spectacular environments around the Earth. In 'African Air', Steinmetz captures stunning panoramas in more than 14 countries in Africa, giving readers captivating and intimate views of areas that have rarely, if ever before, been photographed.

From densely packed urban centers to small, remote villages, from migrating herds of wildebeests and elephants to infinite miles of desert, 'African Air' is a compelling testament and celebration of the majesty and splendor of Africa’s most breathtaking landscapes.

With extraordinary vision and a unique perspective, Steinmetz portrays sky, land, and water in ways that have never been expressed before.

Best known for his exploration photography, George Steinmetz has been a regular contributor to 'National Geographic' and GEO magazines for more than 20 years. He has won numerous awards for photography including two first prizes in science and technology from World Press Photo, as well as awards and citations from Pictures of the Year, Overseas Press Club, and the Eisenstadt Awards.

Hardback, 215 pages. Full colour.

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0810984032

ISBN-13: 978-0810984035

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Fresh Air South Africa Flying Sites Guide

Paragliding & Hang-Gliding Flying Sites Guide for South Africa

By Greg Hamerton

The complete guide to paragliding and hang-gliding in South Africa.

The best book on the South African paragliding and hang-gliding sites just got better. If you are planning a paragliding tour or hang gliding trip through South Africa, this is THE book!

Wherever you want to paraglide in South Africa, you'll find a flying site listed. It's written by a passionate pilot (Greg Hamerton) who travels a lot, so you get the advantage of experienced guidance, detailed directions and notes, and up-to-date information.

Why do you need it?

• It shows you where to fly
• It explains how to fly safely
• It helps you to find the best conditions

The 5th edition is full of colour. There are many photographs (designed to get you high) and the book is divided into regions to simplify your reading.

LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN!

Now you can choose from over 135 flying sites in SOUTH AFRICA (including new sites and secret spots), where you'll find complete listings of:

• How to get there
• Site briefing and cautions
• GPS co-ordinates
• Best wind conditions
• The latest contact details for the local pilots

Then you can improve your cross-country flying skills with the Airlore chapter, and learn how to master some tricky situations. 

The Fresh Air Site Guide - you'll be lost without it!

What does it look like inside?

	Colour maps of each region, with the flying sites marked. Just think, without this book, you might drive right past all these epic sites just because you didn't know they were there. The wind changes rapidly in some areas (especially the Western Cape) and it is very useful to be able to see which sites are close to you, to use as alternatives.
	A wind-rose showing you which sites are flyable in any given wind direction. It's difficult to make sense of the South African weather, but it's all explained. You can't afford to get it wrong. Instead of being rained upon, you'll find cloud streets and sunshine, because you'll be in the right place for the season!
	Aerial photographs in each region to get you excited about where your adventure could take you. If you felt you got value for money with previous editions, you're going to be delighted with this one!
	Photographs of the sites, and a comprehensive write-up on each. It's difficult to judge safe flying conditions in an unknown area - you just don't know what to look for. With the SITE BRIEFINGS it's like having your own instructor there on launch.

Paperback: 192 pages

Publisher: Eternity Press

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0958511810

ISBN-13: 978-0958511810

Product Dimensions: 20.6 x 14.8 x 1.6 cm

Reviews...

 African Air review by ricklibrarian

When a photographer has a perceptive eye, there is really not a need for many words. In African Air, a beautiful new volume of aerial photographs from across Africa, National Geographic and GEO photographer George Steinmetz quietly shows us much about the grand and struggling continent. Images of natural wonders butt up against scenes of human poverty and environmental degradation. After viewing these 119 photographs, readers maywant both to go to Africa as a tourist and to send aid.

How stunning are the photographs? They compare well with many of the images from the popular television series Planet Earth. As in the nature documentary, Steinmetz took many of his pictures from a motorized paraglider, the motor strapped to his back. In the paraglider he could hover quietly one hundred feet above a herd or rise thousands of feet over a valley or lake to get unusual views. The resulting photographs are both eye-popping and informative.

Steinmetz has been photographing Africa since 1979 when he took some time off from college. In the introduction, he recounts his many adventures, some of which seem ill-advised. Parents will not want their children following his lead. Still, it makes awfully good reading, so don't just look at the pictures. Steinmetz also includes several short personal essays among photos.

Many of the photographs date from his National Geographic assignment to supplement the journal's report about the African transect by Mike Fey in 1999. The most magical images often seem to comes from the Sahara. I particularly liked his photos of camels in caravans.

Not many libraries have this attractive book yet. I recommend it. 

Hugh Miller, Editor, Cross Country Magazine

"The guide reveals the country's glorious sites and also gives a host of handy flying tips, all dished out in a chatty yet very informative manner. The book opens with a whirlwind tour of South Africa, where Greg whets the reader's appetite. The possibilities for adventure in South Africa are not just revealed, they positively jump off the pages and bite you on the nose. Greg's writing is of a similar standard to that of Lonely Planet's scribes.

How a pilot so into his flying had time to put together such a comprehensive, entertaining guide is totally beyond me."

Darron Guberman, Go Fly Magazine

(Reviewing the 4th edition)

"The fourth edition of the Fresh Air SITE GUIDE is now available. It is still the definitive reference book on where, when and how to fly over 120 sites in South Africa (plus a few in Namibia and Zimbabwe).

The newest edition is a huge improvement over the previous ones. It is now properly bound and printed in full color. The cover is shiny and bright and the pages are filled with enough color photos to make even the laziest recreational pilot hunger for more airtime.

New sites have been added and all of them are now split into four groups: North, South, East and West. At the beginning of each zone is a full-page map showing major roads and the location of all the sites. This is a hugely useful feature for anyone planning a road trip to fly new sites. GPS coordinates are listed to help you find the launch in case the road signs don’t.

Advertising has been included in this edition to pay for the big jump in quality. Fortunately for the pilot, the ads are few. Only every twenty pages or so. If you are an aspiring pilot you will likely want the name of that local school anyway. If you are a grizzled old vet, you might need that dealer’s number for a replacement line en route. Accommodation is listed next to a few of the more popular flying areas.

Pilots familiar with the earlier versions will still find the useful bits intact. The windrose offers a quick way to see which sites favor what wind direction. The Airlore section is a cross between a ground school class and a comic strip.

If you are an adventurous pilot who wants to see and fly more sites, this professional book is well worth the price."

Bennie du Plessis, Hang Glider Pilot, South Africa 

"It is written in a very relaxed style and makes you feel like going out there and flying!

This book is a must for every pilot's book-shelf."

Andre Reyneke 

Chairman, Overberg Paragliding Club, Cape Town

"Greg's site guide would make an excellent present.

I recently bought it and have already used it a number of times to fly at sites I never knew about before.

... it has all the info about who and how to contact in order to fly at these different sites."